Coal-washer.



H. G. COOK.

COAL WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. IB. 19I4.

Patented Dec. 7, 1915.

aeucneuneenuauooeu |n u acouoouonnoaoonoaa Mbsb mig) Afm/amber: IMQ. @ook COLUMBIA PLANDGRAPH cn.,wAsmNGTON, D. c.

NETE@ STATES PATlEltllll @FFQE HOWARD G. COOK, F ST. LOUIS, MSSOURI, ASSIGNGR TO-WILLIAM lVI. DUNCAN,

i ELTON, ILLINOIS.

coat-WASHER.

tientas.:

1 o @ZZ lwhom it may concern.'

Be it known that Lflowaan Gr. COOK, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of lissouri, have invented Certain new and useful improvements in Coal-Vfashers, of which the following' is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had tothe accompanying` drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to coal washers and has for its Vobject the production of a very eflicient apparatus for separating coal from impurities, such as slate, bone coal, etc., the apparatus being so constructed that `a very large volume of water for `washing purposes may be admitted to a ig tank in which a reciprocating jig is suspended.

Briefly stated, my invention preferably comprises a combination of elements including a ig provided with av perforated bottom upon which the raw Vcoal is dumped, a jig tank in which the jig reciprocates, an overflow tank into which washed coal and water are dischargedfrom the jig, and means for returning water from the overflow tank to the tank. Thewater'to be returned to the tank is preferably delivered to a water reservoir communicating with an inlet opening formed in the jig tank at a point below the ig. The water reservoir is preferably closed at the top 'so that air may be compressed between the surface ofthe water and the top of the reservoir, and to insure a very rapid flow of water tothe tank,v the latter is in unobstructed communication with Y Vstroke of the The movement of the jig is usually only about four inches and it occurs in a very brief period of time, so that any obstruction such as a check valve at the inlet opening will impair the efficiency of the washer by obstructing the flow of water Specification of Letters Patent.

Patenten nee. a, taie.

Application aieaaprn fa, raie. serial No. 832,714.

to the jig tank. By my improvement l dispense with thevcheck valve and to prevent the escape of an excessive quantity of water through the inlet opening, l preferably locate the water reservoir above said inlet opening so that the water contained in the reservoir resists an upward or return movement of the water at the inlet opening. rEhe resistance oifered by the water in the reservoir corresponds in some respects to the resistance offered by the check valves in the old coal washers# The water reservoir may be closed at the top4 to provide a closed air space above the water, and in this event an upward or return movement of the water at the inlet opening, will be resisted by the air in the closed reservoir as well as by the weight of the water contained therein. lf any water escapes from the jig tank by returning through the inlet opening it will compress the air in the reservoir and when the jig moves away from the inlet opening, this air under ,pressure will serve as a pressure medium for accelerating the flow of incoming water at the inlet opening.

Figure l is a diagrammatical top or plan view of a coalV washer embodying the features of my invention. Fig. l1 is a side elevation, partly in section.

ln the accompanying drawings: l designates the jig tank, 2 the jig, and 3 the water reservoir connected to the jig tank by a vconduit 4.

5 designates the overiiow tank which receives the washed coal and water from the jig tank l.

y G designates a centrifugal pump connected to a return pipe 7 leading to the overflow tank.

8 designates the return pipe leading from the pump to the water reservoir 3.

9 designates a bucket elevator mounted in a tank l0 adjoining the jig tank and communicating therewith throughan opening l1 near the bottom of said tank.

The refuse entering the jig tank from the jig 2 falls onto the inclined bottom of the jig tank which directs said refuse to the opening 11. The raw coal is dumped onto the perforated bottom of the jig 2 and the jig is reciprocated by any suitable mechanism. When the jig descends in the jig tank, water is forced through the perforated bottom of the jig and through the material lying thereon. As the speciic gravity of the coal is but little in excess of the Water, the coal tends to rise nearly to the surface of the Water in response to a downward movement of tlie jig, While the impurities being heavier gravitate to the bottoni of the jig and finally pass troni the jig through the opening 15 at the left hand side oit' the lower portion of the jig. .Vlien the jig moves upwardly the upper stratum of water and Washed coal above the jig is discharged ont-o afcliute 16 leading to the overflow tank 5. The capacity of this overflow tank is suliicient to allow the Water therein to be coinparatively quiet thus permitting the settling of the coal therein. The Washed coal may be removed from the overflow tank by a bucket elevator 13. The Water is returned from the overflow-tank to the jig tank by means of the centrifugal pump G, return pipes-7 and 8, Water reservoir 3 and conduit l leading from the Water reservoir to an inlet opening 12 in the jig tank.

It Will be noted that the reciprocating jig 2 operates in a manner similar to the operation of a large pump plunger, the heavy iinpurities lying upon the perforated bottom of the ig serving to open and close the perorations'in response to vertical movements of the jig. When the jig moves upwardly the heavy impurities almost entirely close the perforations in the jig and the upper stratum of coal and Water above the jig is therefore positively discharged into the overflow tank 5, and at this time the jig tends to draw a ii'esh supply ot' water through the inlet opening 1:2. vVhen the jig moves downwardly the Water in the jig tank rushes through the perforated bottom of the jig thereby liiting the heavy impurities resting upon the jig bottom and during this downlWard movement the jig tends to force Water through the inlet opening 12 in the jig tank. As previously pointed out, check .valves have been arranged at the inlet openings of jig tanks to prevent the Water from rushing back through such inlet o eninUs when the n e Y jig moves downwardly. In accordance With my invention no obstructions are present at the inlet opening and to prevent the escape of an excessive rquantity of Water-at this point I preferably locate the Water reservoir 3 above the inlet opening so that the Weight oi' the body of Water in the reservoir tends Y to resist the'upyvard movement of the Water at the inlet opening. To further resist a return movement ot' the Water, the Water reservoir is preferably closed at theY top `to serve as means orvconiining air above the Water contained therein. `It any Water escapes at the inlet opening 12 it will lift the Water in the water reservoir and coinpress the air in the upper portion of said being present at this point, and the Water being placed under pressure by the centrifugal pump 6. It' any air is Vcompressed in the upper portion of the ivater reservoir it will serve to increase the rate ofliovv at the unobstructed inlet opening 19..'

In a coal washer, a jig tank, a jig arranged in said jig tank and adapted to reciprocate vertically therein, a- Water reservoir in unobstructed communicationV with said jig tank beneath said jig, fa coal and Water receiving tank adjoining said jig tank adapted to receive the coalrand Water overflowing from said jig tank in response toa reciprocating movement of the said jig, and

means for pumping a supply of Water from said coal and Water receiving tank to the Water reservoir, said Water reservoir being closed at the top to serve as means for holding air under pressure'above the Wateicontained therein, and said Water reservoir being adapted to deliver water to the jig tank undei` the pressure imposed in said reservoir.

HOWARD G. COOK. In the presence of- M. M. Arcan, A. J. llIoOAULEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing theV Commissionerof Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

